Did you know that a staggering 25% of UK pregnancies end in loss? Did you also know that if someone suffers a pregnancy loss before 24 weeks, it is up to their employer to decide to allow paid leave? Find out more about George’s Law and join us in supporting the Miscarriage Leave Bill.
What is George’s Law?
A lawyer who lost her IVF baby just 10 days before the legal right to paid maternity leave is fighting to have the law changed. Keeley Lengthorn lost her baby boy, who she had named George, at 22 and a half weeks in March 2022. Under current UK law, she had no legal right to take any time off work.
So why has the UK government still not made this compulsory in all workplaces?
Keeley is spearheading a national campaign demanding statutory three days leave for those who experience the heartbreaking loss of a child before the 24th week of pregnancy.
Current legislation provides employees with maternity or paternity leave and pay if a baby is stillborn after 24 weeks of pregnancy, or dies shortly after birth.
Mirroring New Zealand legislation
Keeley fought this change by supporting the Miscarriage Leave Bill, drafted by SNP MP Angela Crawley. The bill was successful at the first reading but at the second reading there was not sufficient time to hear the bill and so the bill fell away at the beginning of last year, hence Keeley’s campaign to fight again by amending current legislation.
George’s Law has been supported by some MPs, but Keeley said many more are yet to offer their backing – a position she says needs to change.
Keeley, named Solicitor of the Year in 2022 and Kent Legal Hero in 2023, was inspired by a law in New Zealand, having discovered there’s no support for parents who lose a child early in the UK.
“I kept an eye on New Zealand legislation which has enacted a policy across New Zealand to allow all employees, both men and women, three days statutory paid leave in the event of a loss under 24 weeks,” says Keeley.
Keeley added: “The law is so archaic in this area. I didn’t know that there was this statutory gap, which means that we’re not protected. But unfortunately we’re at this point where women and men (because we can’t miss out men as well,) are having to go back to work the next day after having to go through the ordeal of having a baby born sleeping.
“There’s no protection in place to help you plan the funeral, to help you deal with the emotion, with the counselling, with the grief."
At the moment Keeley’s campaign has a huge number of charities supporting it.
All firms must show their support
Keeley is urging as many workplaces as possible to get behind the bill, because it’s quite clear to everyone there is this huge gap in the law that we need to fulfil.
At AJ Chambers, we are always championing important causes and we aim to contribute to a more compassionate and supportive work environment. We believe it is critical for UK businesses to support this campaign and strongly urge firms to take action and include ‘George’s Law’ into their HR guidelines as soon as possible.
Despite the prevalence of pregnancy loss, only 9% of organisations have policies in place addressing the issue. Added to this, a quarter of employees stated that they considered leaving their job because of their experience at work during pregnancy loss.
Keeley has collaborated with Briefed to create a FREE pregnancy loss training programme. It is only 10 or so minutes long and can be accessed here: getbriefed.com.
Please stand with Keeley Lengthorn and AJ Chambers in advocating for the Miscarriage Leave Law to be changed across the UK. Show your support on social media and across your firms’ website.